Honoring a woman's work at home

Taught by Their Mothers

There is a story in the Book of Mormon (a companion scripture volume that we believe goes hand in hand with the Bible) that, to me, symbolizes all that motherhood is about and it applies across the board no matter what religion you are. But first, let me refer to my previous post. When I last posted, my heart was heavy and I really didn’t know where to turn for answers. My sweet son had an appt. the next day with an ecclesiastical leader (his Bishop) that he really wasn’t looking forward to attending. After much discussion and encouragement, he met with this wonderful man and walked out of his office a different person than he walked in. I talked to our Bishop later and he shared with me this particular account in the scriptures and how it applied to my son.

In this scriptural account there is a group of people whose past had been filled with violence and hatred. They were taught by a couple of young men about their Savior Jesus Christ and His love for them. When they learned of this and felt the love of God, their hearts changed and they no longer had the desire to hate or to fight. They made covenants of peace and buried their weapons of war. Years passed and there came a time when their enemies declared war on them. They were torn between protecting their families and keeping this covenant they had made with God. They had sons who were strong young men of God who had not made this covenant. The scriptures say:”And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage and also for strength and activity; but behold this was not all- they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him.”

There were 2000 of these young men who went to war, and they fought in many fierce battles.Another scripture says: “Now they never had fought, and yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” How powerful a statement this is on the influence of mothers. Even though we don’t always think they hear, our children are listening to our words and there will come a time that they will remember what we have taught them, and how much we love them.

Now, how did this apply to my son? In the first great battle, these young men fought valiantly and not one was killed. “Behold I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain. But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God, yea never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength.” It is the next battle, however, that applies to my sweet missionary. “And it came to pass that there were two hundred out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also to the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.”

This great Bishop reminded my son that he too had been fighting a battle. A physical and a spiritual battle and he was one of those who had fainted because of loss of blood. Did that make him less valiant or faithful? No, it did not. He exercised courage and faith when he chose to serve a mission and is just one of those who fainted, not from loss of blood literally, but with medical and other health issues. He told him he was no less worthy than those 2000 scriptural warriors.

Were those faithful mothers praying for those 2000 young men? Absolutely. Were those prayers answered? Beyond a doubt. Does the Lord hear my prayers any less than he heard those mothers? No and I need to remember that. I am so thankful for an inspired leader who spoke words that I needed to hear as well as my son.

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One thought on “Taught by Their Mothers”

I just want to say that this past was inspired in my behalf today. It is amazing to me that those mothers were so enabled to live the gospel and have faith. I amazed by what must have been quite a journey for them as well.